Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light & Hourglass No. 28 Serum Primer

hello lovelies! 

so i am here to review some of my february favorites!! Hourglass has become one of my absolute favorite makeup brands and i have recently been drawn to their new products especially. but believe me, i will be making a effort to collect a few of their staple items that have been around for years. their products are top-notch and their packaging is sleek and well-made. i adore them. 

so let's start my Hourglass venture with two products that i recently ordered from Sephora, both purchased after much deliberation and research on the blog-o-sphere. let's see how they faired!

first up is the Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused, $45.00, my most lusted after product of the spring season! released February 6, the Ambient Lighting line consists of universal finishing powders that are meant to recreate different types of flattering light. according to the Hourglass website, "Each powder captures, diffuses, and softens surrounding light with groundbreaking photo luminescent technology." From a pale, cool translucent Ethereal, to a Radiant golden bronze, its easy to find one that will work for you :)

i chose Diffused after much research of which color would work best for my skin tone. here is the breakdown from the official Hourglass website of each individual color: 

Diffused Light A soft, warm, pale yellow powder. Light your skin with DIFFUSED LIGHT to reduce redness and give skin clarity – like a soft ray of morning light.

Ethereal Light An opalescent sheer, cool white powder. Light your skin with ETHEREAL LIGHT to mimic a moonlit glow – even in broad daylight.

Radiant Light A sun-kissed golden beige powder. Light your skin with RADIANT LIGHT to extend a summer glow, or enhance the overall complexion with believable, subtle, warmth.

Mood Light A soft, sheer lavender pink powder. Light your skin with MOOD LIGHT to mimic the softest most forgiving light and reveal your brightest complexion.

Dim Light A neutral peach beige powder. Light your skin with DIM LIGHT to blur imperfections and highlight a radiant complexion with the perfect balance of warm and cool tones.

Luminous Light A champagne pearl powder. Light your skin with LUMINOUS LIGHT to create a soft, incandescent candlelit glow – day or night.

in order to figure out my ideal powder, since i really wanted to buy at least 4 of these, i consulted with not only some fabulous bloggers (that's you, Christine!) but watched some YouTube videos to see the colors in a more realistic setting. Josh Collier's video review is a great place to really focus on what powder will work best for your skin tone! now let's get to those pictures!

Diffused Light in natural lighting

Diffused swatched on back of hand, not blended; natural lighting

OVERALL: i am happy i purchased the Diffused Light powder, as it seems to settle quite well into my skin. a common misconception of this product tends to be the fact that it really does nothing because you cannot even see it on your skin. however, that is the intention of the product. you do not want to see powderiness or chalkiness on the skin. it seamlessly blends into your skin and just makes it look better. its quite magical. i intend of buying a few more once my bank account stops crying :\  Rating: A

my second Hourglass purchase was a very well-reviewed primer and serum in one called No. 28 Primer Serum, $22. for 10ml, $65. for 30ml. hearing those two words together immediately sucked me in! i tested this puppy out in Sephora and the formula was so silky smooth and it smelled amazingggg. check this out: not only does it hydrate my sooo thirsty winter skin, but its jam packed with nutrients (28 of them!) that is supposed to nurture my skin and prepare it for a seamless makeup look. SOLD.

Hourglass No. 28 Primer Serum, 10ml

OVERALL: Hourglass has done it again. they have taken my heart, and my money, and refuse to give any of it back. so be it. it's also suitable for all skin types and is free of all the nasty fragrances, sulfates, dyes, parabens and happens to be vegan-friendly. Rating: A

both items were a bit on the pricey side, but for the amount of product you get, as well as the amazing item itself, its worth it to me. 

*i always say, instead of spending tons of money on useless makeup at Walmart, buy some nice higher-end products that will work well for your skin and make you look your absolute best. its worth it, gals ;)

check back regularly for more reviews from my february favorites! 

bits & pieces

another fun-filled installment of bit & pieces here for you!

* so as you all may know, i love my 2 cats Annabelle & Fritz. they are kind of adorable and so so sweet. i'm not quite the cat lady yet, but i'm thinking these few items may just put me over the edge: i'm probably going to need this for my car. for some light reading, probably this book and this book. i do get sad leaving my kitties at home, so i keep pictures on my cell phone that would be really safe in this rubberized cover! i'd definitely have to don this fabulous tank top if i had to run errands around town. excellent, think i'm all set!

my cats have done this creepiness to me too.

* while on the topic of cats, here's a HILARIOUS video of a news anchor who simply couldn't keep it together during a news report: Swimming Fat Cat... i honestly couldnt.stop.laughing.

* so this past monday, Jeopardy! contestant and high school teacher, Colby Burnett, won the first round of the Tournament of Champions and celebrated his big win with the "suck it" move. "yeahh beetch...uhh.."

* these kids got kicked out of a Korean McDonald's for buying a tremendous amount of french fries. apparently in Korea, large fries have been on discount and students have been throwing "potato parties" and spreading them out amongst a table to share. why did they get kicked out? not only did they delay the orders of other customers, but kids have left large messes for workers to clean up and have disrespected Japanese culture by leaving behind uneaten food. this isn't the first time the Japanese have done something rather silly... does anyone remember the Bagel Head Trend? 

* sometimes, a little color therapy is all i need to feel a little bit better. whether that is coloring my nails, or coloring in a coloring book. aside from all the disney coloring books, i've come across some pretty neat kaleidoscope coloring pages and geometric shapes that you can print off the internet, color in, and hang around your house or give to that someone special ;) haha

* ever since i made the Overnight French Toast Casserole on Christmas Eve, my family has asked me to make this almost every weekend. its kind of delish, give it a try! (i make it sans nuts) bonus? all you have to do is heat it up in the oven in the morning and voila! nom nom.

i'll forever laugh at this hahahaha...

this&that: my current obsession with the mini-series The Following...Annabelle always being near me, even when i blow dry my hair...The Lumineers CD on repeat in my house...setting my alarm 10 minutes earlier in order to get to work at a decent time...enjoying some books by Steve Martin, given to me by a thoughtful friend...

& here's my darlin' annabelle as i snap some pics for the blog.

hope you have a great start to the week!!

february favorites!

i am a makeup fiend... as some of you may already know, i spend a hefty part of my extra money on makeup. i consider it some sort of therapy. this month, i bought a good amount of makeup, upscale and drugstore, and have sorted out my favorites among (many of) the products!

1. MAC's Shaping Powder in Emphasize

2. MAC's Alpine Bronze Mineralize Blush

3. MAC's Melba Blush

4. MAC's Mineralized Skinfinish in Stereo Rose*

5. MAC 208 Angled Brow Brush*

6. MAC 266 Small Angle Brush*

7. Hourglass No. 28 Primer Serum*

8. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light*

9. NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder* 

10. Real Techniques Buffing Brush and Expert Face Brush

11. Make Up For Ever HD Foundation in N115*

* a full review is in the works!

here's a small breakdown of all items mentioned above...

1-3. i won't go into too much detail here, but MAC's Shaping Powder in Emphasize, MAC's Alpine Bronze Mineralize Blush and MAC's Melba blush have all been integrated into my daily routine... & i still love them all! check out my review of them all here 

4. MAC's Mineralized Skinfinish in Stereo Rose was a little gem i picked up when it was re-released in the Apres-Chic Collection. unfortunately it is sold out, just like it had within minutes in 2010. although i need to use a light hand with this corally-golden because of my pale-ness, it is quite the beauty!

5-6. while we are on the topic of MAC, i bought two brushes of theirs that i have been dying to try! i got the 208 Angled Brow Brush and the 266 Small Angle Brush. keep an eye out for a review of both these brushes and a new lipstick i picked up! 

7-8. Hourglass has been one of my favorite brands for years and years. i remember my love for their tinted moisturizer and their duo eye shadows, which apply like butter. well, i love my face primers so i just HAD to try Hourglass' No. 28 Primer Serum. my skin has been rather dry so i picked this baby up after some great reviews from different bloggers, as well as its promise for a "ultra-hydrating and nutrient-rich primer and serum infused with 28 beneficial ingredients to nurture your skin." SOLD! i'm lovin' this primer/serum and recommend it to anyone who is suffering from dry skin. Hourglass also just released their Spring Collection & ever since i first heard word of their Ambient Lighting Powder, i knew i had to get my hands on it! oh.my.god. this powder is amazing. i ordered it in "Diffused Light" (the consensus around the blog-o-sphere concluded this was one of the better ones) and couldn't be happier. 

9. NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder is also a new product for the Spring, and also a product i have had my eye on before it even released! unfortunately, it had sold out online immediately, so i had to venture to the nearest Sephora and grab it. NARS currently does not have it for sale on their website (they do have the loose version), but Sephora does have it in stock still!

10. Real Techniques brushes have become my go-to to apply anything from foundation, highlighter, concealer, face powder, blush, you name it! Samantha & Nicole Chapman, or "Pixiwoo" on YouTube, are two lovely sisters who have developed these brushes after years of makeup tutorials online. in fact, they are my favorite to watch! i have the entire set of brushes, and although they are all fabulous, the two i really find myself using the most are their Buffing Brush and the Expert Face Brush. i tend to use the Buffing Brush as a finisher for my foundation as well as to apply powder. the Expert Face Brush is perfect to apply foundation, if you want a little bit more coverage. i bought these at Harmon Discount, but you can purchase at Ulta!

11. my last product is the Make Up For Ever HD Foundation in N115. i have been wanting to try this foundation for the longest time, so i picked this baby up on my last Sephora trip! very nice formula and a smooth finish :)

that's all for now, keep an eye out for those reviews! ;)

the oscars! (gif heavy!)

the oscars came to our LED televisions last night and i settled down for a long night of prom dresses, awkward camera shots, pre-rehearsed speeches, and seth mcfarlane's potentially inappropriate monologues. don't get me wrong, there were celebrities who looked absolutely stunning and some noteworthy moments during the 3 hour show. i'll address them here.

the (more important) winners: 

* Best Picture: Argo

* Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln

* Best Actress: Jennifer Lawrence in Silver Linings Playbook

* Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz in Django Unchained

* Best Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway in Les Miserables

winners!

ohh jennifer lawrence, so much happened with you last night! on top of winning best actress, jennifer fell up the steps to accept her award, muttered "fuck" quietly to herself, couldn't let us know the brand of clothing she was wearing, announced she was hungry, and gave the finger to cameras after receiving the award. but its funny because regardless, it just made her seem more "human." she's kind of adorable.

oops.

flippin' the bird

when seth macfarlane did the skit for "we saw your boobs," jennifer lawrence was mentioned for having never shown her boobs in a movie before. this was her reaction, LOL:

for some reason, and i'm not sure if it has to do with her previous movies, many people seem to really dislike Anne Hathaway. i am not one of them. i have no problem with her, and i'm not quite sure what people see. does she appear to have a large ego? maybe its because she looks so fabulous in short hair, women are jealous? tell me people! well, it didn't help her case last night when she showed up wearing a pale pink Prada gown... with the most unfortunately placed darted seams in the bust area. i couldn't help but look at her bust area, feeling uncomfortable for her. her saving grace? her adorable growing hair and her classic makeup. oh, and maybe that little award for best supporting actress. yeah, that helped too.

* favorite dresses last night? definitely has to go to Halle Berry, Sandra Bullock, and Stacey Keibler. sleek, metallic, sparkly. it appears all these ladies have something in common and i just adore it. no puffy prom dresses here, just grown up chic. 

oh & a few celebrities made us all feel like they were simply too good for the Oscars and for all us mere peasants. some to mention? robert downey jr. and joaquin phoenix.

yes, that's right clap for me.

yeah, whatever.

some valid points to mention from the evening's festivities: 

* i think we could have done without Kristen Stewart's "i just came from a grungy rock star's funeral" get-up, awkward demeanor, forgetting to speak when its her turn, and a just overall disinterest in being there. can we stop inviting her to events?

* renee zellweger may have been loopy on tranquilizers & had slight botox done or.... is that just the way she usually looks? 

* channing tatum danced for us, but decided not to take his clothes off? was there a reason...?

* the one french dude during the Les Mis skit really went to town on his solos. like, obnoxiously went to town.

* russell crowe sang??? like, for reals?

* was a bit confused why the tiger from Life of Pi wasn't in attendance. admit it, he was the real star of the movie.

* why do the oscars go over by a half hour every single year? if we took out the first half hour of macfarlane's singing, we would have been fine (or the random awards no one cares about).

* so every time jennifer aniston would say "anna karenina," i thought she was stuttering. it wasn't her fault either, try saying it.

* bradley cooper looked adorable and brought his mother with him. sat front row, and won nothing :( wah. he rocked in Silver Linings Playbook. in fact, much better than Lawrence did, in my opinion. its tough being up against Daniel Day-Lewis.

* jennifer garner is a cutie, but i'm not sure why big tufts of fabric encompassed her entire backside. quote my mother, "you can't even sit in that...thing."

* robert deniro simply didn't give two craps about his hair: 

* can i just mention anne hathaway's nipples again... i mean, darted fabric in her dress? ugh, just noooo.

* daniel day-lewis seems like the coolest guy ever. he even displayed a great sense of humor while receiving his award. oh, and made history as the only man to win 3 best actor oscars. go him!

* kristen chenoweth was an awful idea for a host on the red carpet. everything was about her. "yeah, you're up for best actress... so how do you like my dress? look how much smaller i am than you..." bad news bears.

* the last 5 minutes of the show, which i hope everyone had turned off the television after seeing ben affleck tear up accepting the award for argo, we all could have done without. seriously, hearing chenoweth and macfarlane sing was not my ideal lullaby to fall asleep to. it screeched through my entire body. 

well that's my oscars wrap-up! you probably don't have to skip through those atrocious 3 hours you have on DVR anymore, right?? talk to you all lataaaa ;)

feeling down? over eating? trouble waking in the morning?...

if you live in the upper half of the states, you may be longing for the warm spring weather to arrive. here in Jersey, the temperature hasn't rose above the 30's in days. i've found myself having trouble waking up in the morning, longing for the warmth of my bed. i curl up on the couch with a warm blanket and plop in front of the tv. naturally, i'll grab some food to munch on. i prefer the comfort of my home to dressing up and taking on the town. my motivation has been limited and my friends have given up on me. but believe it or not, i am not the only one suffering from these symptoms. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a real disorder that wasn't recognized until the 1980s. 

in mild cases, we get the "winter blues," which will leave us fatigued, unable to wake easily in the morning or fall asleep at night, feeling withdrawn from the world, lack of energy, and loss of productivity at work or school. luckily, SAD is temporary and once the sun begins to shine again and temperatures get warmer, your symptoms will disappear.

what if you think its more than just a seasonal depression? get evaluated by a doctor. SAD disappears comes spring and reappears come fall. but if you find that your depression has become year-round or you are fully withdrawn, its time to get checked out. depression is a serious disorder that should never be taken lightly. if you find yourself not wanting to leave your house, avoiding communication, food, activities, sex, a doctor will be able to direct you in a course of treatment to get you better. don't suffer!

although its temporary, there are some cures to help you kick SAD in the rear! According to the Mayo Clinic, Light Therapy is a proven way to decrease symptoms of SAD. consider purchasing a Light Therapy Box to sit or work near that mimics the natural light. you know how the sun makes your mood instantly change? light therapy is thought to effect the brain chemicals that are linked to your mood. the suggested use for a light box is for 30 minutes a day with the light shining indirectly toward your eyes. Light Therapy Boxes can also be used to help correct your sleep cycle (circadian rhythms), which tends to get thrown out of whack when you suffer from SAD. Another benefit to the box is the decreased need for popping unnecessary antidepressants. pop on this box every day, and watch as your mood and sleep cycles change for the better!

+ Amazon has some great deals on Light Therapy Lamps: this one is prescription strength, and has a 4.4 rating out of 5. if money is a concern, this one is ranked 4.1 out of 5 and has "just the right level of brightness."

some facts about SAD:

* it effects more women and children than men.

* people with SAD report sleeping 2.5 hours more in winter than summer.

* reverse SAD is real... this is when a person feels more depressed in the summer than in the winter.

* according to Dr. Norman Rosenthal of the National Institute of Health, SAD is a genetic predisposition. so, in short, it most likely runs in your family.

sources: Psychology Today and Mayo Clinic 

i hope this brought to "light" that SAD is a real-life disorder that effects 6 percent of the US population. lesser symptoms of SAD, like the winter blues, effects nearly 14 percent of US adults. when in doubt, just give it around three months, and we will be much warmer and, in turn, much happier!

have a fun weekend :)

the five.

i'll randomly be posting a new topic called "the five." its comprised of 5 different pictures, books, facts, or anything that pops into my mind. i'll do a little research and post it here!

i have been having some really weird dreams lately that have been all over the place, so today i'll list ...

5 Amazing Facts About Dreams

1. within 5 minutes of waking, 50% of your dream is gone. within 10 minutes, 90%. when i have a strange dream, i always try to jot it down quickly, before it erases from my mind.

2. men tend to dream more about other men, while women tend to dream equally about men and women. 70% of men's dreams are about other men. (source: Psychologist Jenny Parker of West England University, 2009)

3. every single person that appears in your dreams are people you have seen at least once in your lifetime. you may not remember them, but it could be that random person you saw in Walmart when you were 10. your mind is more powerful than you think.

4. 12% of people, even those who can see in color, dream in black and white. and only in black and white.

5. it is impossible to snore while in a dream. the body is paralyzed while in the REM stage.

(source: Live Science)

maybe some you already knew, but i think these were pretty neat! :)

happy thursday! (its almost the weekendddddddd!)



Flower Nail Lacquer in Gorgeous Gerbera vs. Essie's Van D'Go

i had a feeling that these two nail polishes were similar, and boy are they! i found Essie's version to be slightly more on the darker side, while Flower's was more muted pale pink. but overall, they might as well be dupes. take a looksie!

on the left finger is Essie's Van D'Go and on the right one is Flower Gorgeous Gerbera